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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says he fully supports
a food fishery in the Bay of Islands and is calling upon the Government of
Canada to live up to their commitment and allow this fishery to take place.
"The federal government committed to allowing a food fishery in parts of
the province that have a commercial fishery," said Mr. Joyce. "There is
currently a commercial fishery in the Bay of Islands, yet the federal
government is still not willing to allow this year’s food fishery to take
place. This is totally unacceptable and the federal government should keep
their commitment to the people of this province.
"I am also very disappointed that the federal government has slighted the
people of this province by treating other Atlantic Provinces differently. In
Nova Scotia, residents have a recreational food fishery in which they can
fish at their leisure without buying tags. If there are to be rules that
govern a food fishery in Atlantic Canada, they should be applied uniformly
to all provinces to ensure everyone is treated equally. This type of double
standard is unacceptable.
"I have always supported and spoken publicly for a food fishery in areas
where there is a commercial fishery. Unfortunately, the decision by the
federal government to renege on their commitment and not allow a food
fishery in the Bay of Islands will lead to a protest fishery where law
abiding citizens may be charged for catching a codfish. This is an unfair
policy and should be changed immediately.
"I am calling upon our federal MP’s to join me in lobbying the Federal
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to allow a food fishery in the Bay of
Islands this year. By working together, I am hopeful that the federal
government will realize that their current policy is unfair and should be
changed. The people of the Bay of Islands, and indeed the entire west coast,
should be entitled to a food fishery and I will continue to fight on their
behalf to ensure that their concerns will be heard."
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